Cipriani comeback close

Danny Cipriani is set to begin his comeback from an horrific ankle injury during the next 10 days.

The Wasps and England fly-half has been pencilled in for a return either against Premiership opponents Bath next Wednesday or Anglo-Welsh Cup hosts Gloucester three days later.

Cipriani returned to full contact training with his club this week - two months ahead of schedule.

He suffered a fracture dislocation of his ankle during Wasps' Premiership play-off victory over Bath in May, amid initial speculation he had suffered a career-threatening injury.

But the 20-year-old, who won three caps during last season's RBS 6 Nations Championship, has made a remarkable recovery, having spent the summer working with renowned sprint coach Margot Wells and Wasps' head physio Prav Mathema.

Cipriani said: "I have never been one to take rugby for granted and I have always been grateful for the things you can achieve in sport.

"But this [injury] really has hit home and shown me how much you miss it and how much you care about it when you can't be a part of it."

Wasps are reeling from three successive Premiership defeats - and they head to arch-rivals Leicester on Friday night without suspended England back-row forward James Haskell - but Cipriani has played down any immediate influence.

"I don't think one man can change a side," he told the club's website, wasps.co.uk.

"If I go in there I want to be a positive influence and try to do what I can do, but the boys know exactly what they need to do to change it and win games."

As for the possibility of an early England recall, Cipriani added: "I am not thinking too much about that. I just want to make sure I get back for Wasps and I am playing well, and whatever comes from it comes from it.

"Hopefully, I will get that chance to play for England again, but whether it be now or in February (for the Six Nations) I don't know.

"But I hope I come back and make an impression for Wasps, and I can try to be a positive influence on the side.

"I've always wanted to make sure I came back as strong as I was before.

"I didn't want to come back sluggish and have my first game where I am trying to play into it - I wanted to come back and try to make as much of an impression as possible.

"If I had doubts and I voiced my opinions then my friends would tell me to be quiet because it is what it is and you have to get on with it. That's what I have tried to do the best I can."

Cipriani missed England's two-Test summer tour of New Zealand but his performance in orchestrating victory over Ireland at Twickenham last March won rave reviews.

It underlined his ability to become England's long-term number 10, although whether he is considered for the autumn Tests, starting against the Pacific Islanders on November 8, remains to be seen.